A donor story from the Mother’s Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes
When Nicole welcomed her newborn daughter, she expected the typical adjustments of new motherhood. What she didn’t anticipate was how a challenging breastfeeding journey would transform into an opportunity to help vulnerable babies across the region through milk donation.
When Breastfeeding Becomes Complex
Like many new mothers, Nicole’s postpartum experience presented unexpected hurdles. “During the first several weeks post-baby’s birth, she was extremely colicky and I searched for answers to help resolve her distress,” Nicole recalls. The sleepless nights and constant crying left her determined to find solutions for her struggling infant.
Through careful research and consultation with healthcare professionals, Nicole discovered that her daughter’s distress might be linked to her diet. “After researching and consulting with pediatricians and doulas, along with obtaining a stool sample from my little one, we decided that if I were to continue breastfeeding I should attempt to discontinue all dairy-use.”
This revelation presented Nicole with a difficult decision and an unexpected opportunity.
Nicole and her Baby
Turning Stored Milk into Hope
By the time Nicole identified the dairy connection, she had already built an impressive freezer stash. “At this point, I had almost 150 ounces proudly saved,” she explains. For many mothers, this would represent weeks of pumping, storing, and carefully managing their liquid gold.
The prospect of discarding this precious resource felt overwhelming. “Initially, I felt disheartened to think that I would have to throw away all my hard work, as my postpartum and nursing journey were quite difficult,” Nicole shares, echoing the sentiments of countless mothers who face similar situations.
Rather than letting her efforts go to waste, Nicole began researching alternatives. Her discovery of milk donation through the Mother’s Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes transformed what felt like a loss into a meaningful gift.
The Gift of Abundance
Nicole’s decision to donate represents more than just finding a use for stored milk—it reflects a profound shift in perspective about her breastfeeding journey. “Upon doing research of what to do with all the stored milk, I decided on donating all of the milk I could, to help those in need,” she explains.
The realization that her challenge could become someone else’s solution brought unexpected joy. “I felt blessed to be able to produce so much mothers milk that I could donate, and knowing that babies out there will thrive with my help.”
Continuing the Mission
Nicole’s story doesn’t end with her initial donation. As an oversupplier, she discovered that her ability to produce abundant milk could serve a greater purpose. “Now, as an oversupplier whose freezer continues to overflow, I am thrilled to continue donating milk as long as I can.”
This ongoing commitment highlights the sustainable impact that dedicated donors can have on the milk bank’s mission to provide safe, pasteurized donor human milk to vulnerable infants.
The Ripple Effect of Milk Donation
Nicole’s donated milk will reach premature babies, infants with medical complications, and other vulnerable populations who depend on human milk for optimal health outcomes. Through the Mother’s Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes’ rigorous screening and pasteurization process, her gift becomes a medical intervention that can prevent necrotizing enterocolitis, reduce infection rates, and support healthy development in critically ill infants.
How to Join Nicole’s Mission
Mothers like Nicole who produce more milk than their babies need can make a profound difference in the lives of vulnerable infants. The Mother’s Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes provides comprehensive support throughout the donation process, from initial screening through milk collection and processing.
Potential donors undergo health screenings and blood testing to ensure the safety of donated milk. The milk bank covers all costs associated with donation, including supplies and shipping, making it accessible for mothers who want to help.
A Legacy of Caring
Nicole’s journey from breastfeeding challenges to milk donation exemplifies how personal struggles can become opportunities for extraordinary generosity. Her story reminds us that sometimes our greatest gifts emerge from our most difficult moments.
For babies in neonatal intensive care units across the region, Nicole’s milk represents more than nutrition. It’s a lifeline that supports healing, growth, and hope for the future.
The Mother’s Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes is grateful to donors like Nicole who transform their abundance into life-saving gifts for vulnerable infants. To learn more about milk donation or to begin the donor screening process, visit our website or contact our team.
Are you an oversupplier like Nicole? Your extra milk could save lives. Contact the Mother’s Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes today to learn about becoming a donor and joining our mission to provide safe, pasteurized human milk to babies in need.
